Ex-Mets star Ray Knight says ‘I don’t like the Wilpons’ at Old Timers’ Day

For Ray Knight, Outdated Timers’ Day for the New York Mets was extra than simply catching up with previous associates. He was again the place he belonged, and it was no due to the Wilpons.

Knight didn’t maintain again about how he felt about Fred and Jeff Wilpon, who owned the Mets previous to Steve Cohen shopping for the workforce in 2020 for $2.4 billion.

“I hadn’t spoken to Jeff Wilpon in 30 years, interval,” Knight instructed the New York Submit on Saturday after the festivities. “By no means was invited again, apart from the 30-year [World Series reunion]. I used to be by no means invited to throw out the primary pitch, none of that stuff. And that hurts since you give every little thing you’ve gotten, and also you anticipate any person to offer a bit one thing again, and that’s what this group is doing now.

“I really like the New York Mets. I don’t just like the Wilpons, I don’t like all of that deal.”

The unhealthy relationship stems again from 1986, when Knight was named World Collection MVP in a miraculous season for the Mets. New York didn’t even have their parade but to have a good time when then-GM Frank Cashen known as Knight into his workplace to debate his contract for subsequent season. 

After posting a .298/.351/.424 slash line with 11 homers and 76 RBI throughout the common season, on prime of the World Collection MVP, one may anticipate that Cashen and Fred Wilpon, who was in command of the workforce on the time as president and CEO, would reward his efforts. As an alternative, he was supplied a one-year deal that noticed a $5,000 elevate.

An offended Knight spurned the Mets, signing with the Baltimore Orioles as an alternative for the 1987 season.

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Former teammates Ray Knight (22) and Darryl Strawberry (18) greet each other throughout the 1986 New York Mets thirtieth anniversary reunion celebration at Citi Subject in New York Metropolis on Might 28, 2016.
(Jim McIsaac/Getty Photos)

“I didn’t even benefit from the parade. It simply by no means went away, the damage by no means went away, as a result of it by no means modified,” Knight stated.

“They tore the center out of that ball membership after they let me go and so they let [Kevin] Mitchell go as a result of we have been two guys who made a distinction in that clubhouse.”

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Ray Knight is proven on the 1986 New York Mets thirtieth anniversary reunion celebration at Citi Subject in New York Metropolis on Might 28, 2016.
(Adrian Edwards/WireImage)

It was the primary Mets Outdated Timers’ Day in 28 years, and Knight was amongst 65 alumni that made it out to Citi Subject for the followers to observe and reminisce.

“Any time that you just’ve gone to battle the way in which that we did and achieved issues collectively as a workforce, there’s a closeness. And these guys will inform you, there’s a closeness. There’s a fraternity,” he stated.